Comment Re:Yup (Score 1) 324
Not quite true on the Paramedic statement. Most paramedics operate on what is called Standing Orders or protocol. The doctor who is supervising the paramedic program in your area is tasked with creating a standard response to most types of calls that will be encountered in the field. As long as the paramedic stays within this protocol they are allowed to start IV's and administer drugs all without contacting medical control.
Even EMT-I (Intermediates) are allowed to administer certain drugs without any direction from medical control as it has already been spelled out in the Standing Orders.
Now if this drug proved to be useful and was added by the doctor overseeing the paramedic program then a paramedic could administer this drug in the field for a suspected spinal injury without medical control intervention.